Chapter 2 key terms: Mind-body Communications Maintain Wellness

autonomic nervous system:

the special group of nerves that control some of the body's organs and their functions

hormones

chemicals produced in the body that regulate body functions

placebo effect

healing that results from a person’s belief in a treatment that has no medicinal value

psychosomatic illnesses

physical illnesses brought on by negative mental states such as stress or emotional upset

somatic symptom disorder

occurrence of physical symptoms without any bodily disease or injury being present

autogenic training

the use of autosuggestion to establish a balance between the mind and body through changes in the autonomic nervous system

biofeedback

using an electronic device to “feed back” information about the body to alter a particular physiological function

hypnosis

a state of concentration and focused attention

hypnotherapy

the use of hypnosis to treat sickness

nocebo effect

the opposite of placebo effect; a harmful substance that has harmful, undesirable, and adverse effects on health

meditation

focusing awareness on a self-produced inner sound (mantra) or an external sound, or image, or one’s breathing to lessen attentiveness to external stimuli

mandala

an artistic, religious design used as an object of meditation

mantra

a sound or phrase that is repeated in the mind to help produce a meditative state

relaxation response

the physiological changes in the body that result from mental relaxation techniques

guided imagery

using verbal suggestions to create one’s own mental images that produce relaxation, and feelings of harmony, and reduce stress

image visualization

use of mental images to promote healing and change behaviors

virtual reality therapy (VRT)

use of computer programs to create virtual worlds that engage the mind in order to overcome pain and fear and to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder